Switch and signal operating mechanism



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. RATGHFORD. SWITCH AND SIGNAL OPERATING MECHANISM.

Patented May 15, 1894.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. N. RATGHPORD. SWITCH A-ND SIGNAL OPERATING MECHANISM.

No. 519,735. Patented May 15, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS RATCHFORD, OF COVINGTON, OHIO.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersIatent No. 519,735, dated May 15,1894. Application filed August 11, 1893. Serial No. 482,917. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

3e it known that I, NICHOLAS RATCHFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Covlngton, 1n the county of Miami and State of Ohlo, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Combined Switch andSlgnal Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of railway switch and signaloperating mechanisms, and has particular relation to that class ofmechanism wherein a signal and switch are connected through the mediumof chains and wires with operating levers.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple and reliablemechanism of this class of such construction and operation as to preventthe switch being thrown from a main track movement to aside trackmovement 'YVlthOllt first operating a signal; to admit of its operationin a safe and effective manner; to construct the device in a durable andinexpensive form and to produce other improvements which will be morespecifically pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in themanner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 isa plan view of my improved switch and signal operating device, showingthe position of the levers when the main track is cleared. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the position of one of the levers when the signalhas been operated thereby. Fig. 3 is a plan View with the levers, standtop plate and operating disk removed. Fig. 4is aside elevation of thestand showing the levers and operating disk removed. Fig. 5 is a detailinner side view of one of the operating levers. Fig. 6 is an outer sideview of the same. Fig. 7 is a plan view of said lever. Figs. 8 and 9 arerespectively views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the additionthereto of overlapping lever arms and Fig. 10 is a transverse section online m a; of Fig. 8.

Similarletters refer to similar parts th roughout the several views.

or represents a suitable base plate which is adapted to be rigidlysecured upon the extensions of the railway ties or otherwise supportedadjacent to a railway track. From this base a rises a suitable stand orlever block d, which on its upper side is provided ,verse way or channele.

adjoining its forward and rear side with vertical extensions 1) I), thusforming between the latter in the top of said stand, a trans Thischannel portion e is normally covered by a plate e. On opposite sides ofthe stand (1 are provided projecting rounded bosses or hubs o, a,through which pass centrally a pin or shaft opening 0 the latter beingcontinued through the body of the stand. Within the channel or seat ebetween the stand projections b b and beneath the plate 6 is looselyseated a locking disk f, said disk being of such circumference that whencentrally seated in the channel 6 it will project over the inner endportions of the hubs or bosses c.

j j represent the operating levers of my device, the bodies of whichconsist of suitable elongated bars provided at their outer ends withdesirable handle portions as indicated. The inner ends of these leversjj' are fulcrumed at the centers of the bosses c c by means of asuitable pin or bolt h which passes through the pin hole 0 Near theinner end of each of the levers jj is secured on the inner side thereofa cam plate, the latter being indicated at 3' 3. The forward andenlarged end portions of each of these cam plates is provided on itsinner side with an inwardly projecting semi-circular cam lug, which areindicated at g g. These semi-circular cam lugs together with thecorrespondinglyshaped and flush ends of the plates j j are adapted tobear as shown, on the peripheries of the stand hubs c c. As indicated inthe drawings, one end of each of the lugsgis squared, while theremaining end is inclined or beveled from its outer side or face, saidincline or bevel extending downward to meet the inner face of the plate3' These beveled end portions of'the lugs are so arranged with relationto each other that when said lever arms are opposite each other andlying on the same side of the stand, the beveled end of one of said lugsis at the lower end thereof, while the corresponding end of theremaining lug is at the upper end thereof. Projecting laterally from thelever arm j opposite the rear portion of the plate j isabolt or pin h.Upon the outer projecting end portion of the pin h is mounted a groovedwheel it about which passes and to which is secured the usual signaloperating chain 71, said wheel being also connected with the lever bolth. Projecting laterally from the inner end portion of the lever 7, is apin 11 with which is connected the usual switch tongue operating arm 4?.

As indicated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, I may provide each ofthe lever arms 3' with an inwardly extending plate or arm, which areindicated at 0 p, which projects at right angles with said lever armsand on such plane as to cause one of said arms 13 p to overlap the otherwhen the lever arms are opposite each other. Any suitable and well knownmeans may be provided for locking the lever armj in a horizontalposition through the usual slotted opening q in said arm.

In order to illustrate the operation and use of my device I will assumethat the usual Signal controlled by the chain 7? indicates that the wayis clear for cars to run upon the main track, that the lever arms 3' jare down in the horizontal positions shown in Fig. l and that thebeveled end of the cam lug g is uppermost. The operation of throwing theswitch in order to direct cars from the main to the side track consistsin reversing the lever j and as will readily be seen when the parts arein the position above specified, the bearing of the locking disk fagainst the inner side or surface of the lug 9 will so support said diskas to bring the opposite side of the latter into contact with thebeveled end portion of the lug g when the latter is turned upward andthus prevent the movement of the switch operating lever. In order,however, to accomplish the throwing of said switch lever, it will beseen that the signal lever must first be reversed, thus bringingthebeveled end portion of the lugg opposite the disk f or a portionthereof, and allowing the latter to be moved laterally by frictionalcontact of the lug g when the switch lever is reversed. From thisoperation it will readily be seen that the switch lever cannot be thrownand the switch cannot therefore be operated or changed without firstoperating the signal controlled by the lever j, in as much as thereversal of the signal lever serves in the manner above described tounlock the switch lever. It will thus be seen that any danger ofaccidents occurring through carelessness of an employ in changing thecourse of travel from the main to the side track without firstdisplaying a signal to that effect, is entirely obviated.

In again clearing the main track and returning the switch tongue to itsformer position, it will be seen that the switch operating lever must beutilized first, in as much as the signal lever is locked from movementon account of the contact of the locking disk with the inner side of thesquared end of the lug g. In case, however, that the operator shouldforget to follow the operation of the switch. lever with the operationof the signal lever, it will be seen that the signal will be retained ata danger position, thus indicating to the engineer of an approachingtrain that he must approach with caution.

It is obvious that in the operatlon of my device the contact of thelever lugs with the periphery of the locking disk will result not onlyin the above mentioned lateral movement of said disk, but in a. partialrotation of the latter at each contact of a lever lug therewith. Theprogressive rotary motion thus imparted to the disk must result, as w1llreadily be seen, in distributing the wear of the disk over itsentireIperiphery, thereby so equalizing the wear as to prolong the lifeof the stand and retain said disk in operative condition.

It is evident from the construction whrchl have herein shown anddescribed that a simple, reliable and effective means 1s provided forpreventing the opening of the main track without first operating thesignal.

As a further indication to the operator of the 1ever.to be firstoperated, I may provide the arms 10 p, the uppermost arm of the latteralways indicating the lever which may be thrown first. It is obviousthat a swltch mechanism constructed as herein described may be producedat a reasonable cost of manufacture and that the parts of the same areso arranged as to obviate any tendency of the same getting out of order.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1 In a railway switch and signal operatin g mechanism, the combinationwith a stand d and a transverse way or channel in the upper end thereofand a disk loosely seatedin said way, of levers jj' fulcrumed onopposite sides of said stand and cam lugs on the inner faces of saidlevers, said lugs being of such form as to prevent the movement of thelug of one of said levers past the periphery of the locking disk withoutfirst reversing the remaining lever when said levers are thrown to thesame side of the stand substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a combined switch and signal operating mechanism, the combinationwitha stand, and a transverse seat in the upperside thereof and alocking disk loosely supported in said way, of levers jj fulcrumed onopposite sides of said stand, semi-circular cam projections on the innersides of said lever arms, said cam projections being provided withalternately arranged beveled ends as described, a switch connection withthe lever j and a signal operating connection with the lever j,substantially as described.

3. In a combined signal and switch operating mechanism, the combinationwith a stand having an upper end channel or way e, and a locking disksupported loosely in said way, of levers jj fulcrumed on opposite sidesof said stand, plates 7' 3" on the inner sides of said lever endportions, semi-circular cam lugs on the inner faces of said plates, eachof said cam lugs having a beveled end portion, said beveled end portionsbeing 10- ing and overlapping arms 19 p on said 1ecated, one at theupper end of one of said vers, substantially as and for the purpose lugsand the other at the lower end of the specified.

other when said arms are on the same side of NICHOLAS RATGHFORD. thestand, a signal operating connection with In presence of said lever j,and a switch operating connec- O. W. VOQRHEES,

tion with said lever j, and inwardly extend- O. C. SHEPHERD.

